Sydney is still the best big event city in the world

13 October 2018 — 12:05am

The controversy over projecting an ad for The Everest horse race on the Opera House has provoked some snide reactions from other states. Sorry, the rest of Australia, but Sydney is still far and away the best city in the country to have any big event, be it a horse race or a football game or a cultural festival.

The Herald said a week ago and it still maintains that using the ethereal sails of the World Heritage-listed building to announce a "barrier draw" was an appalling idea that cheapened one of the few cultural symbols that Australia has to offer the world.

Protesters opposing the projection of material promoting The Everest horse race onto the sails of the Opera House.Credit:James Brickwood

As the city that did a brilliant job hosting the 2000 Olympics, Sydney has long been Australia's premier event city and the investments now being made in public transport, arts and new stadiums will only enhance the lead over the rest of Australia.

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The Sydney CBD light rail, when it is built, will improve access to the Sydney Cricket Ground and Randwick race course. The new Sydney West Metro will open up the Olympic stadiums at Homebush.

The Herald has questioned the need to knock down and rebuild both the Sydney Football Stadium in Moore Park and ANZ Stadium at Olympic Park, given that they are almost never both filled to capacity. But there is no question that once built they will offer world-class facilities. It is a pity no thought has been given to the urgent need to build a medium-sized covered stadium for tennis and netball.

Sydney is not just about sport or betting. Within a few years the NSW Art Gallery, the Opera House and the Sydney Theatre Company wharf will all be upgraded.

What the furore over the Opera House has exposed, however, is an important debate over how to present the city to the world to best advantage.

In describing the sails of the Opera House as "the biggest billboard" in Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has shown the same tin ear as in the "Where the bloody hell are you?" ads he approved as head of Tourism Australia in 2006.

Just like the slogan Mr Morrison wasted $180 million on, the Opera House draw on Tuesday was incomprehensible to foreign visitors. The Opera House is not part of the brand of horse racing. Racing NSW should provide some evidence that it was any more effective than hiring some celebrity to draw numbers out of a barrel.

Many in the ALP, such as NSW opposition leader Luke Foley, share the same jaundiced view that their passion for horse racing should be splattered anywhere in the city. The Opera House is a special place, like a cathedral or a house of parliament. There are other places to promote horse racing.

It has taken 45 years to create the Opera House brand. If The Everest is to succeed it, too, must show patience. It should start by winning the hearts of the people of Sydney. The Opera House stunt antagonised many of them.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has come off badly in this episode. She was wrong about the Opera House and, perhaps worse, missed an opportunity to show she can stand up to 2GB radio's Alan Jones and other angry male broadcasters.

After a public outcry Mr Jones made a grudging apology to Ms Herron but Ms Berejiklian has not commented on Mr Jones' behaviour, which was almost as insulting to her as to the Opera House. Mr Jones implied he could have Ms Herron sacked with a call to the premier. Ms Berejiklian should have condemned this sort of nastiness.

The premier's job is to stand up to vested interests, including shock jocks and sports lobbies and made a decision that works for the whole community. Sydney is full of these contradictions but that is what makes it a great city. People care passionately about the face we present to the world.